By way of example (and I don't think this will help anyone unfairly) if the mystery name was "Rev" then one puzzle might be "the guy handling snakes in a tent service" and the next "what you do to warm up an engine"

The answer to both is "rev" but in different contexts.

Hope that helps!

Sploofusaurus (Editor)

Sun, 1st Jun '08 6:14 PM

Revdodd is quite correct! Kudos!

The "Mystery Name Theme" puzzles are about a specific first NAME, and all the connotations of that name. You are trying to guess a first name from all the phrases and hints in the current puzzle.

The "Mystery Person" puzzles are about a specific PERSON; the phrases and clues will help you find out who that person is.
The next puzzle is about a person.

Thanks for the extra clarification, Sploofusaurus! I figured out the name in my first puzzle, but then I thought I was limited to "don" in various contexts (person, word, etc.) and didn't realize that I might run into a couple of Donalds. Duh, I should have thought of that! Anyway, great WP.

I really like these "Mystery" themes, so now I'm looking forward to more.

I guess I'll go along with Donovan as a folk singer instead of a pop singer (the difference between my "Scottish-born singer..." and the WP's "Scottish folk singer...."), but there's no way on earth "Man of la Mancha" is a farce, what with the prison and the torture and the rape and the death.